Maple Leafs defenceman Carl Gunnarsson pulled himself out of the morning skate Saturday and did not play against Boston.

Reports say Gunnarsson is nursing a groin injury; he was to undergo tests on Sunday.

The Leafs would only call the problem a lower body injury, but did say Gunnarsson has been fighting it since training camp.

Korbinian Holzer was recalled from the Marlies on Sunday and will take Gunnarsson’s spot in the lineup for now.

“That was a product of us not being a couple of inches shy of making the right play,” Carlyle said. “We made the right decision but we just weren’t sharp. We hit a lot of pads.”

ON THE MEND: Carlyle said injured winger Clarke MacArthur (finger) is “closer” to playing while Mike Brown, who has shaved his famous handlebar moustache, has been cleared for practice after missing a week with a shoulder injury.

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